Gonstead Family Chiropractic- Blog

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a term that we have all heard. But what the heck is it? ADHD is actually a disorder that makes it challenging for certain individuals to pay attention, they also may become restless or consistently active. I know a lot of parents out there may assume that it has to do with them, but let me show you that this is not a parenting issue. Let me say this again, ADHD is not based on poor parenting, so lets get that out of the way right now. Lets take a moment to lay out a scenario that we see in our La Jolla chiropractic office. Lets place the setting at your child's school. He or she is sitting in class with the teacher talking about George Washington and how he was the first president. Your child as you well know by being around them is easily distracted, day dreaming is not uncommon, or maybe they talk excessively, or better yet commonly interrupt others. So as the teacher is speaking, your child yells out "he is on the dollar bill!". But maybe this is not the first, the second, or the third time he/she has done this in class. So they are sent to the principals office to be reprimanded...over and over again you get a call at work from the school. Maybe this child has had this happen many of times and now is on multiple medications that are being taken daily, weekly, monthly, etc. This is something that distracts you from your work, it embarrasses you, maybe it if even creates rifts in the family. This is not something that has to be an issue anymore. Some common signs and symptoms are:1. Easily Distracted2. Doesn't follow directions or finish tasks3. Often daydream4. Doesn't stay seated5. Has trouble waiting their turn6. Blurts out answers

And so many more. But what makes some of these signs and symptoms of ADHD different from a normal child's behavior? We can all agree that even the most healthiest of children are hyped up majority of the time. They are rambunctious, hyperactive, and even inattentive. Children playing in their first t-ball league can be like trying to organize cats into a carrying crate. So when using the term ADHD, it is imperative that we know just because a child is dealing with those issues or may be they are a little different than their friends, does not mean they are dealing with ADHD. On the flip side of things, children who struggle at school, but are absolutely fine at home or with friends can guide you down a path that the child is struggling with something other than ADHD. ADHD should be a consistent issue, not a fluctuating one overall. So what is causing my child to have ADHD? As of right now research is still ongoing, but there are some possible causes that put your child at a higher risk of developing ADHD such as:1. Brain Injury2. Premature Birth3. Lower Birth Weights4. Tobacco or Alcohol consumption during pregnancy5. Environmental Exposures

As stated before, research has not been supporting the ideas of eating sugar, family dysfunction, poor parenting, however it is safe to say these are factors! So what can I do as your chiropractor in San Diego to help your child? My whole focus is actually how can we your child to sit for longer, focus easier with less distractions, provide a more calming nature about them. But again, HOW am I able to do this? Our bodies have something known as the vagus nerve.The Vagus nerve when stimulated actually begins a chain of events that promotes your body to begin relaxation state. When stimulated through a chiropractic adjustment, specifically in the cervical spine. It tells your body to release acetylcholine.As you can tell by shifting the neurology of your child's nervous system from fight or flight to a rest and digest mode it will allow healing to occur from the inside. Bring a level of agitation to a calm centered neurology. Which will ultimately be a game changer and will allow your child to thrive at never seen before levels! We also use a very specific tool to analyze the nervous function of your child. It is called a nervo scope that allows us to located the problems in the spine that are affecting the nervous system specifically. This is a unique approach that is solely found in a Gonstead Chiropractor office in San Diego or wherever you may live if it is outside of Southern California. As parents you also have a role in your child's ability to overcome ADHD. You can help out by being involved. Not by just being there at appointments, but learning more about ADHD, talking with your child's school and teachers on how to work together to enhance your child's education, focus on your child's positive strengths, and reach out to other parents or groups to talk about it. As one of the best chiropractors in San Diego and kid chiropractors in San Diego, we focus on the nervous system of little ones much like yours. We allow them to express life to their absolute fullest through safe, gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments. Allowing their parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) to slow them down, heal their body naturally and healthy. So if you'd like for your child to have a high ability to focus, remain seated, engaged not only while at school but in every day life. Give us a call. Let us know what your concerns are, what you are dealing with, what your child is dealing with so we can provide a better path for all through chiropractic adjustments and watch your family flourish before your eyes.

Dr Zach Beatty, DCGonstead Family ChiropracticGonstead Chiropractor in San Diego858-997-8203

Who knows the top three reasons we go see a doctor?! Well I may not know them all, but I certainly know one of the top three and that's BACK PAIN! This is not just your San Diego chiropractor's opinion, it is backed up by a mayo clinic study. Low back pain (LBP) is actually the leading cause of disability worldwide. The unfortunate part of this is that majority of low back pain incidents will self resolve pain-wise in a few weeks, but what is unknown to many is that it leaves behind an uncorrected issue. That means that what was causing the pain is still there, but the pain has subsided...for the time being. This pain in the low back is going to return, with more than likely a higher level of discomfort than before. As a chiropractor in San Diego, California, we see so many cases of low back pain it is disheartening. Some are acute, some are subacute, and others are chronic issues as defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). So what i the difference between acute low back pain, sub acute lower back pain, and chronic low back pain?

Acute Lower Back Pain

Acute low back pain that lasts a few days to a couple of weeks. With the majority of these cases being caused by mechanical disruption. Mechanical is when the spine, the nerves, the muscles, etc are not in synch with one another.

Sub Acute Lower Back Pain

Sub acute lower pain back is noted with the discomfort persisting for 4-12 weeks.

Chronic Lower Back Pain

Chronic low back pain is discomfort that persists for over 12 weeks. Also something that should be noted is that 20% of acute low back pain cases that are not seen or cared for, result in chronic low back pain cases.

So what should you do if you are suffering from LBP? There are some amazing professions you should see for this issue. Starting with your local Gonstead chiropractor in San Diego or wherever you may be located. But there is also some nice adjustive things you can do to help as well as seeing your chiropractor. Those are things such as doing yoga, pilates, foam rolling, seeing a physical therapist, and much more. The reason I am so passionate about the chiropractic benefits for low back pain is because of the opioid crisis. A recent study shows that chiropractic has a 50% reduction in opioid prescriptions for pain. Another reason to see a the best chirorpactor in San Diego or your local community is because 80% of adults will how low back pain. It is really coming down to a when you will have it, not if. Some low back issues are caused by various of things, but here are some of the more common ones.

1. Muscle Strain Most commonly from lifting something too heavy. 2. Ligament Sprain This can come from an overstretching of the ligaments, common in a car accident. 3. Lumbar disc herniation or disc bulge​ Discs are the padding or cushion between our bones. They contain a jelly-like substance that can at times be compressed so much that it puts pressure on our nerves creating radiating pain such as sciatica. 4. Degenerative disc disease The cushions or discs between our bones can also become thin. This commonly happens because the two adjacent bones become locked up and lack movement or they have increased movement that wears the disc out quicker than normal. 5. Spinal stenosis Spinal stenosis is essentially when the area in our spine that houses the spinal cord becomes smaller putting pressure on the spinal cord. 6. Osteoarthritis It is most commonly known as arthritis. This is when your bones become irregular in shape and add bones to the areas of our joints. 7. Trauma There are two types of trauma, which are micro and macro traumas. Micro traumas are small repetitive movements that have added up over time to create issues. The other is macro trauma, which is a major incident such as a car accident, a slip and fall, or some type of forceful movement.

As a leader in the San Diego car accident chiropractor community, we do see a lot of low back cases from auto accidents. But the reality is that we as a society are causing low back pain from sitting for long periods of time, poor posture, lifting things incorrectly, and the list goes on. Thankfully here at our La Jolla chiropractic office, we specialize in these issues. We even take x-rays if necessary to help us see exactly what is going on within your body. We measure them down to millimeters so we can identify with precision your issue, project outcomes for your with and without care, so that you can make the best decision for your health. If you are concerned about x-rays, John Hopkins has a nice article on benefits of x-rays, but also what to ask your chiropractor if you are concerned about them. If you should have any questions, please reach out to our Gonstead chiropractor in San Diego and our amazing staff to assist you.

One of the top reasons people enter our chiropractic office in UTC is due to headaches. What many people do not realize is there is over 150 types of headaches as noted by the International Classifications of Headaches Disorders (ICHD). However the easiest way to break down headaches is into primary and secondary headaches. First off a primary headache is known as a headache that is caused by itself. Versus a secondary headache that is caused by something else.

May be caused by changes in the brain-stem and trigeminal nerve interactions. Trigeminal nerve is a major pain pathway.

Triggers - hormonal changes, foods, drinks (alcohol)

As your Gonstead Chiropractor in San Diego, we have a great deal of success dealing with patients whom have suffered for years with migraines. Migraines are not something someone should suffer from. If they are have them seek chiropractic care as soon as possible.

Can be caused by stress from school, work, family, friends, and other relationships

Also may be caused by poor posture

Tension headaches much like migraines are extremely common in our chiropractic office in La Jolla. We again have great success with tension headaches because the majority of them come from poor posture which we see through our thorough examination as well as x-rays of the spine.

Some causes are trigeminal nerve is affected creating facial and eye pain

The parasympathetic nervous system is also affected and can cause teary eyes.

Cluster headaches are by far some of the worst types of headaches you can experience. Patients in our Clairemont chiropractic office have seen great results with these, however it does take time for these to resolve. The nervous system is extremely sensitive, the pain is great, and the root cause takes time to heal properly.​4. Exertional Headaches

Exertional headaches are really common among athletes pushing themselves or even workout enthusiasts. When you begin to get this style of headache, it is advised to take a few moments to re-gather yourself.

Recommended treatment is prevention first and detoxification immediately

We highly recommend if you are suffering from medication overuse headaches to seek a consultation with your medical doctor and/or pharmacist to evaluate your dosage of medication. We also recommend that you seek care from a chiropractor near you. The reason for seeing chiropractor is not because of the drugs themselves, but rather the issues for why you are taking the drugs may be something we can help out with. We see a lot of things in our Clairemont chiropractic office that people do not feel is chiropractic, but yet see amazing results from.

At our La Jolla chiropractic office, we use a specific technique for patients suffering from sinus headaches as well as sinus congestion as a whole. We have seen amazing results, with a simple and gentle technique.

Caffeine is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world

The withdrawal headache is caused by the blood vessels constricting in the brain, ultimately reducing the blood flow

Did you know that over-the-counter headache medicine such as Excedrin has caffeine in it to promote blood vessel dilation to help reduce the headaches.

If you decide you would like to consume less caffeine, ease your way into it. Do not go cold turkey as it is a likely way to fail immediately.

If you are unsure what type of headache you are experiencing, give our office a call and set up a free consultation with our Gonstead chiropractor. He will be able to ask questions to give a lot of information and see if it is something we can help out with and if it is not, Dr Zach Beatty, DC will point you the right direction to get you the help you need.

Dr Zach Beatty, DC you Gonstead chiropractor in San Diego specializes in concussions. He even speaks for the Mary Seau CTE foundation, has had several documented concussions, and remains current on the research and literature.

Should you have any questions as to how or if we can help in our San Diego chiropractic office, please reach out. We would love the opportunity to see how we can help you achieve your health goals.

Autism is rising at an almost unbelievable rate. in the 1980s it was being diagnosed 1 in 10,000 children and newest studies show in 2018 to be 1 in 59 children. Now with that prevalence I would imagine almost all of us would know someone with or raising a child with Autism. It is becoming so high that we now use a phrase "on the spectrum" to include varied levels of Autism. It is a condition that not only has affected the child, but the families, and friends. It has literally ripped families apart. In our kid friendly chiropractic office in San Diego we see several children along the spectrum. It is really important to know that most children with Autism as diagnosed as early as 2 years old. However the median age of first diagnosis along the spectrum is: - Autistic Disorder: 3 years and 10 months old - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): 4 years and 8 months old - Asperger Disorder: 5 years and 7 months oldSo what is Autism Spectrum Disorder?Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction. The symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning. When referring to the "spectrum" it is a range of skills, symptoms, and varied levels of disability of functioning people with ASD. Common Signs of ASD:1. overly focused on certain objects2. rarely make eye contact3. fail to engage in typical babbling with parents4. failure to respond to their name5. lack understanding how to play or engage with other children6. may speak in a flat tone7. repetitive movements (rocking side to side, etc)8. thrive on performing the same routine daily, and many more

How is Autism Treated? There are various things that can help such as:1. educational/behavioral interventions Help children be able to develop both social and language skills. 2. some medications have been reported to help Medications are known to not to be able to cure ASD, but can help with related symptoms like depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).3. chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments affect the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is the "brake pedal" to our bodies. It allows our bodies to relax, which most Autistic children struggle with as they are extremely tight and anxious.

This is a short glimpse of what is about to be coming your way on April 25th at 12:15 PM (PST) as Dr. Zach Beatty, DC, your Gonstead Chiropractor in San Diego dives in deep on this topic for you! You will not want to miss this live webinar event.

A big question we get here in our kids chiropractic office in San Diego is pediatric chiropractic care for kids safe and effective? So lets dive right in to what chiropractic care for kids is, how it is different from the adjustments delivered to the rest of the family, what some of the signs are that your childs needs a chiropractic adjustment, and much more. The first major question; is it safe to have my child adjusted? The answer is yes, but let's explain why. Chiropractic care for kids is extremely safe, extremely gentle, and extremely beneficial. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) put out an article on the safety and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic. So how is the chiropractic adjustment for kids different from the rest of the families adjustments? Children have the exact same number of bones in their spine as we do, just less developed. So the adjustments for them is almost the exact same, EXCEPT for one major component. The actual adjustment itself is significantly lighter. In an chiropractic adjustment for an adult we use what is known as a High Velocity Low Amplitude (HVLA) adjustment, however with children is as a Low Velocity Low Amplitude (LVLA) style adjustment. We have performed adjustments on tiny little ones only a day or two old who adjusted by simply laying my pinky on their surface and feeling it move into place. There are some signs that your child needs to be check by your local San Diego Chiropractor specializing in kids chiropractic adjustments. Here is a list of the top 10 reasons you should seek chiropractic care for kids:

1. To encourage good neural plasticity (brain and nerve development). Chiropractic adjustments help the supply of neurological connectivity occur at an optimal level. The more efficient our nervous system is running the more efficient our bodies can develop as well as adapt.​2. To support their child’s overall health and well-being. Our nervous system coordinates everything about our bodies, the blood pressure, our temperature, our movements and so much more. So by being adjusted and allowing neurological optimization our bodies can improve health wise.

3. To help strengthen their child’s immunity and potentially reduce the incidence of colds, ear-aches and general illness. Chiropractic care for kids has been shown to help increase immunity, ear-aches, among so much more.

4. To assist with colic and Irritable Baby Syndrome. What if there was a reason your child was crying and overall unhappy majority of the time, would you do something about it? A lot of the times we see child who are suffering from colic thrive following chiropractic adjustments.

5. To help with asthma, breathing difficulties and allergies. The area of our mid back has direct neurological supply to our adrenal glands as well as lungs. Imagine if that nerve were to be pinched, not allowing nerve supply to those crucial areas. Can you guess what the symptoms would be? Asthma, allergies, and difficulty breathing.

6. To encourage good spinal posture. Majority of children are walking around with terrible posture. They have been playing on their ipads too long, carrying to heavy of a back pack, or studying way too much with their heads looking downwards.

7. To help improve their child’s ability to concentrate. Our bodies have two components to our nervous system. We have a gas (sympathetic system) and brake pedal (parasympathetic system) much like a car. In this case we need to apply the brake (parasympathetic system). This will slow the body down and get your childs body out of the fight or flight mode.

8. To assist with behavioral disorders.Our bodies have two components to our nervous system. We have a gas (sympathetic system) and brake pedal (parasympathetic system) much like a car. In this case we need to apply the brake (parasympathetic system). This will slow the body down and get your childs body out of the fight or flight mode.

9.To help alleviate digestive problems. Within out nervous system as stated above. The brake pedal is also known as our rest and digest nervous system. So we focus on the parasympathetic nervous system to help aid in digestive issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, constipation, etc.​10. To assist with bed-wetting and sleep issues. Again bed-wetting relates back to our nervous system and again specifically our parasympathetic system needs to be address allowing the body to adapt and heal.

If you are looking for a chiropractor for kids or your family chiropractor in San Diego, please reach out and see how we can help.

Imagine you are in significant amount of low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines, or some other ailment creating pain in your body. Of course as your Gonstead Chiropractor in San Diego we think chiropractic. However, there is something out there that is allowing me to perform safe chiropractic adjustments for those with intense pain and muscle spasms. This miracle worker is what is known as CBD oil. Now before thinking its illegal and is marijuana, lets talk about what it truly is, what its affects are, and how it can help you. Lets start off with what is CBD Oil. Marijuana contains two major compounds, one of which is Cannabinoids (CBD) and the other is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). So yes we all know that THC creates a mind-altering affect, or a "high" if you will. CBD on the other hand does not alter the mind, but rather the body and the way it functions. It actually attaches to receptors that are already in our body, due to our bodies ability and natural response to create cannabinoids. So how is this natural plant based chemical creating such a power effect on peoples bodies. Well as mentioned it attaches to our bodies natural receptors. So if we are talking about receptors, it seems like the nervous system must be involved right?! Well you are absolutely right, because the nervous system is the master controller of everything in our bodies. But some of the benefits that people in our San Diego chiropractic office are noticing is decreased inflammation. A study shows decreased chronic inflammation and pain. There is also a lot of other studies being performed on the effects for epilepsy, schizophrenia, cancer, among many other ailments. However as it stand right now the one we can see directly is the massive benefit it's having on inflammation, decreased pain. By decreasing the inflammation around the body, specifically the joints in the spine as well as pain threshold, it is easier to adjust the patients. The easier it is to adjust the patients, the more they can benefit from the specific chiropractic adjustments through the Gonstead technique as on of the best chiropractor in San Diego. Healthline also discusses the 7 Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil: 1. Can Relieve Pain 2. Could reduce Anxiety and Depression 3. Can alleviate cancer-related symptoms 4. May reduce acne 5. Might have neuroprotective properties 6. Could benefit heart health 7. Several other potential benefitsSo this is exactly why you hear chiropractors talking about similar benefits as CBD oil. If it affects the nervous system we can help and so can CBD. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Can we all agree, San Diego is an expensive place to live? With all the amazing things around us, the mountains, the ocean, the outdoors at our disposal. But what if you were to read this statistic that 480,000 people in San Diego County alone are suffering from not knowing where their next meal is coming from on a daily basis? Do you know how many families that is? How many moms, dads, children that includes?! That is absolutely mind blowing and its happening to people we know all through San Diego, it does not matter if you life in La Jolla, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Pacific Beach. So we are collecting non-perishable food items to give these folks in dire need. If you are able to donate even one item, that could change someones whole life for that moment, that day, that singular meal. We are collecting donations at two locations. One of the locations is at our chiropractic office near La Jolla and UTC. As well as at Flow Motion Fitness on Nobel Drive in UTC. But we like to reward people for helping others. And our partner for this amazing food drive is Shawn Marshall from Flow Motion Fitness and he will be offering a FREE workout that is outdoors this Saturday March 16th at 8:45 am to 10:00 am. It is going to be an absolute blast! He is a master of making sure you are not too strained but also getting the proper workout required for you specifically. He does not run a one size fits all method. Also for those donating items to your San Diego chiropractor at Gonstead Family Chiropractic we will be throwing in a special for new patients that you are able to pass along to others!

One of the most trending topics in health right now is your gut health. There is a lot of buzz words being used, a lot of curious people seeking answers about their gut health. Great news is that as your Gonstead chiropractor in San Diego, we will be informing you on the signs, symptoms, how to manage ultimately conquer the issues. In the past we did another post about leaky gut syndrome. However there is a lot more than just leaky gut and a lot more than microbiome of the gut. The first component of any situation is knowing if there is a problem. First there are seven most common signs to identify if you have an unhealthy gut.

1. Upset Stomach An upset stomach is things such as bloating, being full of gas, constipation, diarrhea. Mainly the thing you want to concern yourself with the most is difficulty processing and excreting your consumed foods. Healthy guts should not have this issue.

2. A High-Sugar Diet So what do we know about sugar and bacteria? Well specifically talking about your good gut bacteria, sugar and processed foods is notorious for depleting it. This creates an imbalance of good and bad bacteria. This imbalance can actually increase your sugar cravings, which leads itself to further gut issue. Also with increased sugar consumption, it increases the bodies inflammation. Inflammation in the body is linked to other diseases, conditions, and disorders.

3. Unintentional Weight Changes​ Another symptom or side affect of possibly having an unhealthy gut is losing or gaining weight while not changing your diet or exercise routine. There are obviously different reasons as well, but this is one that can be commonly missed at times. With an imbalanced gut, your ability to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar, and store fats can be affected. Also an increase in weight gain can be an insulin resistance creating a sensation to overeat due to lack of nutrient absorption. While a weight decrease can be due to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

4. Constant Fatigue/ Sleep DisturbanceChronic fatigue can come from having an unhealthy gut as well. Having imbalanced gut can create insomnia as well as poor sleep, which ultimately leads to chronic fatigue. There is a hormone that is produced within your gut called Serotonin. This hormone affects your mood as well as your sleep.

5. Skin Irritation The most commonly displayed skin irritation from an unhealthy gut is eczema. Not many people realize that our skin is the largest organ of our body. Any issues going on inside the body will ultimately show on the outside. Your skin is a reflection of your gut. So if your gut is unhealthy, if you're suffering from leaky gut (ie proteins leaking through your gut into your blood stream/body) again caused by inflammation of your gut.

6. Autoimmune Conditions Autoimmune is also a commonly thrown out there today. The bare bone basics of what autoimmune means is that the body is attacking itself. Yes this is as unnatural and unhealthy as you are thinking. A link has been connected from autoimmune to systemic inflammation that is caused inflammation, systemically throughout the body.​7. Food Intolerances This is not a food allergy, but rather intolerance. This means that you have difficulty digesting the specific foods that you are intolerant to. Some common symptoms to keep an eye out for are bloating, diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain.

Gut health is such a hot topic in our San Diego chiropractic office that we wanted to share it outside of our walls. As one of the best chiropractors in San Diego, its important to us that our community has access to health care at all times and we strive to do that through our blogs, our office, and our webinars. If you have any questions about your health in the future, please reach out to us as we are here to help serve all of San Diego county be that much healthier.

Dr. Zach Beatty, DCGonstead Chiropractor in San DiegoGonstead Family Chiropractic858-997-8203

Statistics show that it is not a matter of If, but rather WHEN you will be involved in a car accident in San Diego. Stats show on average 1 car accident per person every 7 years, while LA is more like 1 car accident per person every 5 years. Now we all know that some have never had a car accident, while others have had several traffic incidences. Country wide statistics state that there are 2.35 million people injured from car accidents annually on average. So when your car collides with someone or something, the last thing on your mind is rational or even a step by step procedure on what to do. Adrenaline is pumping, your heart is racing, your mind goes blank...take a deep breath. It will be ok, this is not the first or the last. Now what a lot of people will think instantly is how am I going to pay for this medically, legally, or other wise finances come to mind. There are some very simple ways to ensure your security in all the aforementioned and take out all guess work to provide peace of mind for injuries, legal ramifications, etc. The easiest and most secure way to ensure safety from injuries and the bills the ensue is your car insurance plan and coverage. The state of California as well as most all other states require drivers to have a bare minimum of liability only insurance. This policy will not cover your medically without legal representation and even at that, most likely will not cover more than a hospital visit if you're lucky. So to make sure your medical bills are covered as well as anyone else in your vehicle is to call your insurance agent and get what is called Medical Payments (MedPay). This will cost you less than $100 a year and will cover every friend, child, family member in your vehicle regardless if you are at fault or not. Now a step by step of what to do when involved in a vehicle collision from your San Diego Chiropractor.

1. Stop California law requires that the drive of a car involved in an accident must stop if there is any damage to any cars or to any person. Essentially, stop no matter what to make sure everyone is ok, your cars are not damaged.

2. Assist the Injured As soon as you stop your car, check with everyone in your car to make sure they are ok, then check on the other involved parties.

3. Prevent Further Accidents Also upon stopping, make sure to take all necessary and possible precautions to prevent further accidents. Set up flares if you have them, warning signs, or have someone standing to warn oncoming traffic.

4. Call The Police Regardless if there is serious injury or damage or not. Always call the local police or highway patrol. This is especially essential if there is any dispute of what occurred.

5. Identify The Other Driver There are some crucial components to gather from the other driver. Such as their name, address, phone number, license number of the car being driven, and make sure to have them show you their driver's license (get a photo) as well their insurance card (also get a photo).

6. Witnesses? If other people are around or stop, try to get their names, address, phone numbers as soon as possible, even if they arrived late and were not eyewitness to it, they may have some information.

7. Assist The Police Following step #4, make sure you remain at the scene until the police or highway patrol arrive. Just give them the basic facts. Also remember you do not have to give an opinion as to the cause of the accident.

8. Take Notes Make sure to have all of this documented. In our San Diego chiropractic office we have brochures with these steps and a place for you to fill all of this information out that fits right in your glove-box. Cannot be much easier than that.

9. Injured? Regardless of how hard the impact was or not, make sure to either go to the hospital by way of ambulance or have someone drive you there. Injuries can still be present without experiencing noticeable bloodshed or immediate pain.

10. Comments This is extremely important for your legal and financial security. State law requires that you only need to provide your name, address and license number of the vehicle you are driving and that you show your driver's license. Keep all opinions as well as other comments about the accident to yourself and information on the brochure that Dr Zach and Gonstead Family Chiropractic will gladly provide you. Keep all of that to yourself and only share that with your attorney.

11. See Your Attorney As soon as possible, cal and make an appointment with your attorney to discuss the accident. He can advise you what you should do next. This will help you protect your right as soon as possible, before you may lose them.

As one of the best car accident chiropractors in San Diego and working with some of the best car accident attorneys in San Diego, we hope you will take us up on stopping by to pick up your brochure. There is nothing worse than seeing someone who is not able to obtain the medical car they need and deserve because they lack fiances, did not get an attorney, or the other party has little to no insurance.

We invite and encourage you to stop by our San Diego Chiropractic office located at Gonstead Family Chiropractic 3202 Governor Dr. #200 San Diego, CA 92122 or give us a call with any questions at 858-997-8203.

Blue light is one hot topic right now. However, how many people truly know what blue light is, what the effects of blue light are, and if it is harmful or helpful. The answer is, not as many as we should have aware of this issue.

What Is Blue Light Blue light is a specific component along the visible light spectrum. In general all waves of light have an energy part to them. Blue light has the highest energy outputs of visible light. It has slightly less output of energy than UV (ultraviolet rays), which is invisible light.

Where Is Blue Light Found Blue light is actually everywhere. The most obvious or talked about source of blue light so happens to be our phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Studies show 60% of people spend at least 6 hours in front of a digital device.

What Does Blue Light Do Blue light can actually delay the release of a natural body produced hormone known as Melatonin. Melatonin is produced creating a tiredness in our body. It is also a supplement many take to aid in their sleep. Blue light also interferes with ones circadian rhythm as well as increasing alertness. The circadian rhythm is interfered with by pushing that natural internal clock and dialing it back to a later time than it. Let's think of that time you went to Las Vegas, with all of those amazing bright lights, flashy signs, etc. You stayed inside the casino all night and when you walked out the sun was shining, and you looked at your watch to see 7:00am. You had no idea where the time went. Well that blue light kept you alert, messed with your circadian rhythm, and decreased the production of your Melatonin. So as your family chiropractor in San Diego we see a lot of kids. Teenagers are already dealing with a shift in their circadian rhythm, but now throw in the blue light and their bodies will be all sorts of messed up. Blue light has also been linked to macular degeneration as well as digital strain on the eyes.

What Can Be Done This has become such a hot topic across the nation. Not only is it affecting our children, ourselves, our loved, pretty much everyone we know minus maybe grandma and grandpa who refuse to upgrade their flip phones and would rather read than watch the television. Unfortunately our eyes can not block the blue light, unlike their ability to block UV rays from reaching our retina.

What Does a San Diego Chiropractor Have To Do With Blue Light As one of the best chiropractor in San Diego, we are not just focused on your low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches, etc. But rather focused on your overall health and wellness. We want you to be the best version of yourself. We also look directly at the nervous system. As noted above, blue light stimulates and increases alertness. This increased alertness stimulates the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic system which is the gas pedal in our body. By this being stimulated or heightened for long periods of time is extremely detrimental to our health and being. ​Solutions Every day is a change or improvement into this discussion. Right now there is some really awesome things happening to help protect us from these blue light emissions. Some very simple tips that can be done are get your glasses lenses blue light protected, there are also blue light protection glasses you buy seperately if you use contacts or do not need seeing glasses. However the absolute best is to avoid using devices that emit them, HA, yeah right. But all joking aside, reduce the amount of time you spend in front of a blue light emitting device as well as try to avoid using the devices right before bed so you can allow your body to naturally produce its Melatonin, avoid stimulating your sympathetic nervous system, and keep your circadian rhythm in check.

As always if you have any questions, please do not hesitate calling our San Diego chiropractic office or shooting us an email. We are always here to help you.